Vehicle Description
This 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 convertible is a pretty big deal, and
once you see its list of credentials, perhaps that price tag won't
seem so big after all. The recipient of a frame-off rotisserie
restoration, it's a matching-numbers car with factory A/C, making
it one of only 10 such cars to be built. They don't come much rarer
than this, and even in 1971, the 442 was still one heck of a
performer.
With just three owners from new, it's easy to understand how this
car remained so well-preserved throughout the years. Cars like this
are special when they're new, so guys tended to treat them better
even when the dark days of the 1970s rolled on. In 2012, it was
torn down to the molecular level and rebuilt from there, and aside
from one quarter panel skin, it's wearing all its original
bodywork. The trim tag says it was originally code 69 Sienna, which
is GM-speak for brown, so when they had the chance, it was
refinished in a more appropriate Viking Blue with white stripes
combination that has made the 442 such an icon. Paint and bodywork
are exemplary with only a few very minor signs of use since it was
completed, and if you want to make a statement, nothing does it
better than the gaping ram air hood and red inner fenders found on
a 442. Nothing was overlooked, although the shine is far deeper
than it would have been in 1971 thanks to the use of modern paint
technology. At the same time, all the chrome and stainless was
refinished, and it still wears correct W-30 emblems on the fender
and twin trumpet exhaust tips out back.
The brilliant white interior is really the only reasonable choice
with a blue convertible, and everything you can see or touch is
brand new. Buckets and a console are standard equipment on the 442,
and it's anchored by black carpets and a matching dash that keep it
from being too bright on a sunny day. Woodgrained accents remind
you that this isn't a lowly Chevy or Pontiac, and it's loaded with
options like power windows and factory A/C, which remains fully
functional and makes this one of ten such cars ever built. The
gauges are in excellent shape, and it includes a cool
Tick-Tock-Tach that's so subtle you may miss it at first glance. A
factory AM/FM radio still lives in the dash, still a novelty in
1971. There's a white power convertible top that disappears with
the touch of a button, and the trunk is correctly restored with a
full-sized spare and proper mat.
That's the original, numbers-matching 455 cubic inch V8, fully
rebuilt and decked out in numbers-correct hardware. Aside from the
long-tube headers and exhaust system, it's quite stock and we have
detailed photos of all the important parts for you numbers junkies
out there. Finished in metallic blue, it's show-quality and runs
superbly with a big hit of low-end torque that made these engines
famous. There's plenty of color under the hood thanks to the W-30
exclusive red inner fenders, and you'll never hesitate to open the
hood at a show. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission carries an
aftermarket pan for more fluid capacity, but the original pan is
included, and the 10-bolt rear end is full of 3.23 gears, which
were standard on automatic 442 convertibles. The floors are
beautifully preserved and not patched together, and a color-matched
set of Rally II wheels and G70-14 Firestone Wide Oval tires give it
the perfect stance.
Heavily documented with restoration photos, receipts, and ownership
history, this is an investment-grade 442 convertible that's not
only rare, but a lot of fun to drive. Call today!
